We would like our Asian neighbors to have friendly relations with our country. But in recent years, some have become a threat to us—like the Chinese who have been insisting that our islands in the Spratlys are theirs. It is obvious that no amount of diplomacy can convince them to change their mind on the islands.
China’s refusal to bring the matter to an international court shows it knows it would lose the dispute in any independent forum. The Spratlys’ proximity to the Philippines only proves they are part of our territory.
China has given the disputed islands Chinese names and has occupied 45 of them with a small number of military forces. But it seems 45 islands are not enough for China.
China’s 1904 map includes Hainan island but not the Paracel and Spratly islands. Any sane person who knows history and geography will agree that China is expanding into Philippine territory and this the Philippines should never allow.
We may not have the military hardware to fight China, but if we have the resolve to protect and preserve our sovereignty and territory, we can overcome bullies and expansionists like China.
—MERBERT B. SENJI,
merbert_senji@yahoo.com